GUELPH/ERAMOSA – It’s been four days since Steve and Sharon Ross were in a collision that saw their Jeep roll over.
Instead of taking the time to recover, they have been desperately searching for a beloved pet who went missing in the chaos.
Riggs, a one-and-a-half-year-old purebred Boston terrier, hasn’t been seen since Sunday afternoon when his owners were in a car collision out near Eden Mills.
In a phone interview, Sharon Ross it was 4 p.m. Sunday when their Jeep was hit by a driver who she said ran a stop sign at Indian Trail and Wellington Road 29. Susan said OPP told her the other driver was charged with a failure to stop at a stop sign.
“We rolled three times onto a neighbour’s lawn and then I was taken away by ambulance,” Sharon said. “My husband got me out of the car because I was hanging upside down … and then he took off right away looking for the dogs.”
One of their two dogs, also a Boston terrier, was found at Highway 7 near the train tracks shortly afterwards but Riggs has not been seen since.
“I’m assuming when we landed they both took off,” Sharon said. “When we got out I was kind of in shock, I didn’t know where I was and then realized we had the dogs.”
Sharon said she is sore and bruised all over her body but joined her husband in the search for Riggs since she was released from hospital.
“Many people have been searching, people I don’t even know, it’s been pretty heartwarming how many people have reached out,” Sharon said.
The couple is going as far as going up in a plane to have an aerial view over where Riggs might be.
Despite the community’s help and the Ross' efforts, there’s still no sign of Riggs and useful leads.
“It’s like he’s vanished, we’ve had a few scammers phone us asking how much money we would give but that’s really it,” Sharon said.
The couple has now put up a $5,000 reward for his safe return because Riggs means so much to them. Sharon said they have had many dogs before they’ve loved and lost but the uncertainty around Riggs is what is troubling her most and causing the couple to be unable to eat or sleep well.
“We don’t know where he is, that’s the worst part,” Sharon said. “It’s been hot, we’ve had severe thunderstorms, my husband has been out searching with the fire department he works for day and night right in the swamps. My husband hasn’t even had a chance to heal, I think he’s lost 17 pounds since Sunday.”
Riggs is described as a classic black and white Boston terrier who is very friendly and comfortable with people.
Anyone with information or sightings is asked to reach out to Sharon directly at 289-890-1982. People are asked not to chase, call or whistle at the dog out of precaution of spooking him and causing him to run.
